WATCH: 'Chefs' burn dogs to death with BLOW TORCHES for Indonesian delicacy

BRITISH tourists travelling to a remote Indonesian town have been sickened by the sight of live dogs being burned to death with blow torches in practises even more horrifying than the infamous Yulin Dog Meat festival in China.

The meat market in Tomohon, in North Sulawesi, central Indonesia, proudly shows off its gruesome wares which include packed cages of live dogs, cats, monkeys, bats, rats, snakes and wild hogs - but never rabbits which are considered sacred.

Tradition over the years has dictated a gruesome method of killing the animals to eat which are too graphic for most people, let alone animal loving Westerners.

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Just about anything that moves is available for the pot at this local market

British tourist

Butchers grab the animals - dog being the top delicacy - with wire loops on wooden poles by the neck then brutally bash them over the head as they dangle until they stop twitching.

And because that is not horrifying enough, the butchers then grab sizeable blow torches and char the still squirming animals’ bodies all over for about 30 seconds to get rid of their fur.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Dogs are placed on display tables with their faces screwed up and tongues sticking out as if they died mid-scream.

The outskirts of the market looks like any other southeast Asian market, packed with colourful displays of bright red chillies, exotic fruit and vegetables.

But it all appears to be a front, for those who dare to venture deeper into the market will find disturbing scenes many people will find difficult to stomach.

Tony Z•YouTube

The dogs are first of all brutally beaten as they are held up with a wire loop

The area relies on tourism, with a growing number of British tourists visiting the remote town and leaving shocked by what they find.

Many told of their horror but others have given highly favourable Trip Advisor reviews meaning it has received four out of five stars on the review website.

One British traveller from Thornham, Norfolk, who visited in April, said: “Just about anything that moves is available for the pot at this local market.

“It may not appeal to everyone - but seeing cats, dogs, rats, pythons and bats being prepared for the pot is not an everyday experience, so go and see it.”

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The dogs - often not entirely dead - are blowtorched to get all their hair off

Sue, from Perth, Australia, who visited last month, said: “Extreme market. If you want exotic animal meat then this is the place. Dog, Bat, Snake, you name it its there. You need to really want to see it all to go as its smelly but my husband loved it...

“Thankfully we went late in the afternoon and there was not much left.”

Gray B, from Coventry, posted what appears to be a sarcastic review.

He wrote: “A must see - very lively on Saturday morning.

“Kudos to the locals doing their bit for the planet - so look for favourite pets to eat, nourishing crispy bat and rat on a stick.

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The dogs are put on display in a very disturbing position

“See the locals debate and find the juiciest ones.

“This is how to shop - Waitrose has nothing on this.”

While the majority of Indonesia is Muslim (87 per cent), Tomohon is mainly Christian, with the religion playing a central role in the community.

Many historical beliefs across Indonesia have been eradicated by the Islamic faith but because most Tomohon people are Christian, the disturbing animal burning and eating practise has withstood the test of time.

In a review of the market, he wrote: “My mission to debunk perhaps the most notorious travel myth, live monkey brains, has brought me through eight Indonesian islands to one of the most remote places on earth.

“I had been through dirty back-alley markets serving some of the strangest animals and dishes I’ve ever seen to find the epicentre of bizarre foods.

“I was excited but what I was about to see was shocking beyond belief.”

Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China : Heartbreaking latest pictures

Wed, June 20, 2018

An estimated 11,000 cats and dogs are due to be slaughtered for the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China

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Many visitors have said the Tomohon Market is even more horrifying than the infamous annual Yulin Dog Meat festival in southern China which has been widely publicised by animal rights activists for the cruel way about 11,000 dogs and cats are slaughtered every year.

Terrified dogs are butchered and served up as a delicacy to satisfy a quack belief dining on their flesh during the hot June temperatures cools the blood.